Caroline Bowen applied in late January for a patient care tech position at Carroll Hospital in an effort to gain some valuable experience in her pursuit of a nursing career.
Bowen, a senior at Mount Airy Christian Academy, spent some time during her junior year as a sonographer at Maryland Perinatal Associates, a pregnancy care center, in Frederick. Last fall she worked as an intern at Westminster Surgery Center. Bowen was also doing administrative work in a doctor’s office, but said she wanted more preparation before graduating and heading into Stevenson University’s nursing program.
Carroll Hospital had a spot for her, and Bowen started working there part-time in early March. A few weeks later, she found herself with unprecedented experience.
The 18-year-old Taneytown resident joined hospital staff as coronavirus cases started piling up. Her days start at 3 p.m. and go until 11, and Bowen said she spends her time working with a nurse and tending to patients’ needs.
“Most people, they’ve been working at the hospital for years. This is a crazy change for them,” Bowen said. “I’ve just started working there, so it’s kind of all I’ve really known.”
Bowen worked last fall to become a certified nursing assistant and a geriatric nursing assistant, according to a news release from Mount Airy Christian Academy, so she could get financial aid toward her college degree.
These days, Bowen is focused on doing what she can at the hospital while Maryland’s coronavirus numbers continue to rise. Carroll County has seen more than 300 cases with at least 35 deaths, according to the Carroll County Health Department.
“When corona hit I told her I wanted her to quit,” Stephenie Bowen, Caroline’s mother, said via text message. “I prayed about it and God put me at peace. ... Caroline feels called to be there, and who am I to argue with that?”
Bowen said she’s nearing the end of her training period at the hospital. The first few days she was able to shadow a veteran employee, but Bowen said now she’s usually on her own working on one of the hospital floors.
Sometimes she cares for patients with the coronavirus, Bowen said, and other times she’s helping those who don’t have those symptoms.
“The nurses basically delegate the work that we are able to do,” Bowen said. “It depends on what patients are in the unit. We’ll have to go in and get vital signs. I’ll gown up and I’ll go into the coronavirus patient’s room and I’ll get their vitals, and if they need some water I’ll go and give them their cup of water.”
Vicky Webster, the head of school at Mount Airy Christian Academy, praised Bowen for her hard work and dedication throughout the internship program.
“We join Caroline and her family as they celebrate this unique career opportunity for her,” Webster said in a news release. “But as a close-knit school family, we are also praying for her safety, too.”
Bowen said she isn’t sure when her time at Carroll Hospital will be coming to an end, but she’s grateful for the chance to be working with its staff during the coronavirus pandemic. She’s planning for her future at Stevenson and its nursing school in the fall, and she’ll be heading there with valuable hours logged.
“It’s definitely a great experience,” Bowen said. “I get to see how everything runs in the hospital, to have first-hand experience, to be able to help these people. They’re not allowed to have any visitors right now. I’m one of the only people that they’re really allowed to talk to.
“It just feels like I’m really able to do something right now instead of sit home and wait.”